Help shape a stronger future for ÄûÃʵ¼°¹
The government wants areas like ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ to become Strategic Authorities — led by an elected Mayor.
To do this, ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ must first reorganise into unitary councils, which combine county and district & borough services into a single level of government.
ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ currently has 12 councils. We are proposing to reorganise into two new councils – East ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ and West ÄûÃʵ¼°¹.
Central government is holding a consultation on devolution and local government reorganisation in ÄûÃʵ¼°¹.
Why two councils is best
There’s a number of reasons why we think this arrangement is best for ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ residents and businesses:
- It saves money and offers better value for tax payers. Stable finances will protect vital services.
- It simplifies services, delivering everything residents need to a high quality, with fewer points of contact and reduced confusion about which council does what.
- It will strengthen our local communities by connecting people through Neighbourhood Area Committees in towns and villages.
A plan supported by
Other plans for ÄûÃʵ¼°¹
Government is also considering a different proposal from some other district and borough councils, to reorganise ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ into three unitary councils.
Government consultation
Central government is holding a consultation about the proposed plans for devolution and local government reorganisation. This will run until Tuesday 5 August 2025. This will help government to understand what residents, businesses and other stakeholders think about the changes in ÄûÃʵ¼°¹. They will use the results from the consultation to help them make a final decision on which option is best for ÄûÃʵ¼°¹.
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